do I have a CHOICE??

[bamaboy473]

All of the sudden the airbag warning is lit on the dashboard. Manual says nothing besides, "take it to a dealer", to diagnose.

Anybody have a way to see what the light is on for? Is there some kind of battery life that might cause this...and result in a huge dollar outflow?

[gmak]

Search the forum. Hundreds of posts and threads on the topic. Pull codes with a reader and see if it is your seat sensor or something related to the seat belt. Buy the $10 fix to plug in place of the seat sensor.

[JimLev]

The standard code reader won't read airbag codes. Look on Amazon for a B800 code reader, it was ~$26 when I bought one.

[bamaboy473]

hmmm, I just did a complete detailing of the car's carpet and removed the seats to do it. What's connected to the seats are the main harness, the seat belt bolt, and a piano wire connector. All gto put back, but I'll check them again. thanks.


Search the forum. Hundreds of posts and threads on the topic. Pull codes with a reader and see if it is your seat sensor or something related to the seat belt. Buy the $10 fix to plug in place of the seat sensor.

[JimLev]

If you removed the seats and didn't disconnect the battery first that is why your airbag light is on.

[Qsilver7]

Ditto...the front seats have (explosive) pre-tensioners that pull the shoulder belts tight in an accident. If you unplugged them when you pulled the front seats and the battery was still connected...this caused the SRS light to illuminate.

Also, the front passenger seat has an occupancy mat sensor...if a passenger is in the front seat, then the passenger side door and dash airbags will deploy if needed...but if the seat is empty...they will not deploy.

As with anything connected to the SRS/MRS (supplemental restraint system/multiple restraint system)...the battery MUST be disconnected prior to disconnecting any wiring harness...and MUST be reconnected before reconnecting the battery. this includes working on the doors (if they have airbags installed...which is identified on the door panel) the front seats/seat belts, the A pillars (if you have a 1998-up...again identifiable with the HPS badge on the A pillar), and the steering wheel.

[lesguy]

I agree on disconnecting the battery first. But in my experience, what triggers the light is not just having the battery connected, but having key in ignition and turned to ACC position without having the plugs under the seat connected

[bamaboy473]

Well, guilty as charged; I didn't dis-connect the battery. Now that I've jumped off the ledge, what to do to cushion the fall?

[jp5Touring]

Have a local Indy shop reset it. Thats all it should need. My airbag module went bad got used one on ebay had my shop reset and recode it.
I think they charged $20. or $28 to do everything. Not a big deal at all.

[bamaboy473]

...so the code reader/reset won't work? (mine is currently loaned out so can't try it). A simple re-set sounds too easy, but great news.

[cwise12]

...so the code reader/reset won't work? (mine is currently loaned out so can't try it). A simple re-set sounds too easy, but great news.


As Jim said, a standard code reader won't, but an airbag code tool made for your car will. They're super easy to find online cheap.

[bamaboy473]

yep, some as low as $20, so buying beats a 25 mile trip to an indi. HTH

[blarf]

Also, the front passenger seat has an occupancy mat sensor...if a passenger is in the front seat, then the passenger side door and dash airbags will deploy if needed...but if the seat is empty...they will not deploy.

Not quite.

http://www.bmwclub.lv/files/Tab_5_MRS_III.pdf


If the signal from the SBE is defective on triggering, the MRS III will deploy as if the seat is
occupied.

If the signal from the seat belt contacts are defective, the MRS III will deploy as if the belts
were not buckled.

[BMWPlanetDude]

Not quite.

http://www.bmwclub.lv/files/Tab_5_MRS_III.pdf

Airbag will not deploy if everything works as expected and nobody is sitting there
But it will deploy as you mention if one sensor is faulty, either the tensioner or the seat occupancy sensor.
So you are both right :-)

[Qsilver7]

Not quite.

http://www.bmwclub.lv/files/Tab_5_MRS_III.pdf

Ditto BMWplanetDude & I already knew & understood the information you posted. :) The assumption in my reply is that the car has a working SRS system and there is NO warning light illuminated. If this is the case...then my reply is correct.

But as you write in your post...if there is an issue with the system and the warning light is illuminated...then the system will not respond as designed and the seatbelt pre-tensioners & airbags may deploy if the vehicle is in an accident when under normal circumstances it would not. This is what is meant by the inference in the owners manual that a "malfunction in the system" has an "impact on the normal response range".


http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Air%20Bag%20SRS%20Warning.jpg

Another example is explained below...see the text highlighted in yellow & green at the bottom of the information. If there is an issue with the SRS/MRS system...then the normal activation of the car's safety systems will perform differently.


http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/Air%20Bag%20Deployment%20when%20SRS%20-%20MRS%20Light%20is%20Illuminated.jpg

[balidawg]

The tool you need is PA Soft BMW Scanner 1.4. It will let you reset that airbag light and a ton of other stuff.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=171753678591&globalID=EBAY-US

Anyone with an E39 needs this valuable tool.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=893444

[gmak]

Or INPA, or a $20 SRS tool.